Thankful for Our Blessings (11/17/2017)

We are so thankful for many blessings this holiday season….Have a Wonderful Thanksgiving! 
~~Yay, it’s cooling off again…good for the winter veggies–and sugarcane.  Many fruits, vegetables and other plants concentrate sugars when there is colder weather or frost, but I’ll settle for just long-sleeve weather! This is the last Saturday market before Thanksgiving, so come out early for a good selection of fruits and vegetables–and comfortable temperatures.
~~Last week we brought a small number of Pink Pomellos; this week we’ll have dozens, in several sizes–get ’em while they’re available! Sungold Cherry Tomatoes and beautiful Cucumbers are also in good supply. The ‘odd’ vegetable this week is Chinese Bittermelon.  This bitter member of the squash family can be filled with a sausage stuffing and baked, or diced and stir-fried with other vegetables, such as eggplant, in curries or whatever you desire; it’s that bitterness that makes bittermelon one of the best natural treatments for diabetes. Many Mid-Eastern and Asian cultures use it medicinally–I just happen to like it diced and sauteed with garlic, then scrambled with eggs. We’ll also have more Tumeric in convenient sizes; cilantro, green onions, more tender greens (Heirloom Lacinato kale, Heirloom collards, Mustards, Wild Lambsquarters & Wild Purslane).  For lighter meals and appetizers we’ll have Karen’s Seasonal Pesto, Super-Nutra Loaf (seeds & nuts) and soothing Moringa/Herbal Teas to wash it all down. Check out our list below for other items we may be bringing; also there are items we discover that are ready to go after I send this email….See you at the Market!
~~This year we will be doing our first sugarcane squeezin’ on the Sunday after Thanksgiving, so that more friends can attend. It’s also a potluck of sorts, and just a chance to get to observe, visit and also see what’s going on at the farm (and yes, we really do have a herd of water buffalo).  If you’re interested please talk to me at the market or send us an email. Supervised children are definitely welcome too.
~~Raw Water Buffalo Milk & other ‘Pet Consumption’ *;) winking products (ask us if you don’t know what this means):  When milk is plentiful we’ll have good farmers cheeses, Kefir, buttermilk (best for cooking; the fluffiest pancakes ever!), unsalted creamy white butter, Whey  http://dontwastethecrumbs.com/2014/05/36-ways-to-use-whey-and-5-ways-to-make-it/

and of course Raw Milk, which is regularly priced at $9/half gal. or $17/gal. However, we have been eating/drinking all of this ourselves and other than the Raw Milk can only make it for you if you order ahead of time(Please give us a week – ecofarmfl@yahoo.com).

~~For our complete availability list (except for last minute items) check the bottom of this email.
~~Thanks for your support!!  See you at the Market Saturday *:) happy
Check this out from the Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket Newsletter:Text to Win!

Keep up with Market news via text message!

  • Just to make it fun, we are running a weekly contest. Text Keyword CURB to 51660 to join our text program and enter to win $10 worth of Market Bucks, which can be spent with any Market vendor. Winners will be notified via text each Saturday.
  • What happens if you don’t win the week you joined? No worries! You can try again week after week. Just text CURB to 51660 each week (SundayFriday), and you’ll be entered for that week’s drawing!
 
~~We are always happy to take your used, clean plastic grocery bags (no garbage please) and green pint baskets that strawberries come in…Please remember to bring them to us this week…Thanks!
~~ Italian ischia sourdough starter http://www.telegraph.co.uk/foodanddrink/foodanddrinkadvice/10638629/Pizza-recipes-how-to-make-artisan-pizza-in-your-own-home.html

and Pizza dough, ready to use right away–active and ready to use (please pre-order this a week before so it can be activated) $9. Also, let me know ahead of time and we can have a Kombucha ‘mother’  available for making your own brew (also $9).


 
~~Raw Water Buffalo Milk sales: We normally sell milk in plastic half gallon containers @$9 and a convenient quart size plastic container for $5. If you would prefer quart or half gallon wide mouth glass containers there will be a $1& $2 deposit to cover the cost of the jars and you will need to let us know ahead of time by email. Kefir only comes in quart sized jars ($8 or $7 with a wide-mouth quart jar to trade). Butter comes in 8 oz. plastic containers for $8. Remember, this is for ‘Pet Consumption Only’ by Florida law. Your ‘Pet’ will be eating like royalty 🙂 


~~We grow everything organically; all ‘chemicals’ are OMRI approved for Organic growers and our fertilizers consist of composted manures (buffalo and more) and fish emulsion. We are not Certified Organic as the cost and ongoing paperwork is prohibitive for ‘real’ farmers–and there are too many variances allowed for Corporate Organic farms–and now they are certifying hydroponics so many original Organically Certified dirt farmers are speaking out and/or dropping their certifications, which are now meaningless. Remember: Ecofarmers do it in the Dirt!

 
Ecofarm is currently able to participate in only one market with super fresh, organically grown produce (not Certified) and other farm products for your convenience:


Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket Saturday8AM-2PM all year except August. We are located on Kentucky Avenue in front of Crispers restaurant. Check out the market website at www.ldda.org/home/farmerscurbmarket.aspx

 and sign-up for the market e-newsletter. Dogs, children and fun galore!

Temple Terrace Farmers Market – Saturdays 9AM-1:00PM – A true Farmers Market – For more information check it out at:http://www.ttfarmersmarket.com/

or https://www.facebook.com/ttfarmersmarket 


Note: We have been providing some of our produce to this market and will continue to increase our support whenever possible. 


~~The Lakeland Downtown Farmers Curbmarket is now taking your EBT/SNAP cards; and you can double your dollars by purchasing Florida grown produce & honey!! There are about 25 of us selling honey, cane syrup, cottage industry foods, produce, breads, seeds, edible plants and more that qualifies for SNAP; and about six of us that can double your money with our produce, thanks to the Fresh from Florida program. The Market booth is set up at the south end of the market and they can explain the process and you can purchase tokens. Vendors participating in the program will have a sign in front of their booths. In addition, you can ride the bus free in Polk County to come to our market and participate in this program. Please pass the word!


Following are some of the products we may be bringing to the market this week:


Super-Nutra Loaf – Fresh weekly; full of seeds & nuts. 
Pesto! Various Seasonal ingredients – great for seafood, pasta, potatoes and more!
Florida Red-Bay leaves – use like other dried bay leaves in soups, beans, etc. 
Fresh Rosemary – We may bring a couple of small bags
Sweet potatoes – not available for a few weeks until new batch ready to dig
Dino kale! – The most heat tolerant kale; more varieties coming soon
Sungold Cherry tomatoes – Finally, a good supply
Pink Pommellos – good supply this week, 3 sizes
Green onions – beautiful bundles this week!
Heirloom collards – nice bundles
Mustard greens – nice bundles of broadleaf green and Red Giant
Arugula – good supply, nice large leaves
Red radishes – decent supply this week
Cilantro!
Cucumbers!
Lambs-quarters – Wild greens that are super nutritious and tasty
Wild purslane – another wild plant that is more nutritious that what we try to grow–and tasty too!
Israeli basil – very heat & rain tolerant; tastes and smells wonderful!
Lemongrass culms/leaves – may be available some weeks
Powdered Moringa – just a teaspoon in your breakfast or other meals does wonders
Okra – small supply, we may be taking them out soon
Starfruit – Not this week
Homemade jams made with very little sugar (organic)   strawberry, strawberry/basil, peach and Cranberry Hibiscus

Pure Cane syrup – Yes!  Give our own local, sustainable sweetness a try; not just for pancakes.
Luffa seed packets – not currently available
Luffa sponges – Check out the real thing–and no, they don’t come from the ocean!
Java Planet Coffees (whole bean, Organic, Fair Trade, Shade Grown & Bird Friendly!) Good Selection of single, blends, dark & medium roasts

Thanks for supporting local farmers, artists, musicians and craftspeople!

Debbie, Jon & Billy plus C.J. & Hayley–the kiddies that inspire us
Ecofarmers do it in the dirt!